Off-duty CDCR Sergeant called ‘hero’ for stopping Fresno gunman

An off-duty CDCR Correctional Sergeant shot a gunman, who was randomly shooting motorists, is being hailed by the Fresno Police Department as a “hero.”

The Sergeant, who was not identified, shot gang member Joshua Lewis, 21, of Fresno, four times as Lewis embarked on a shooting and carjacking attack, the Fresno Bee and police said. The gunman killed two people before the CDCR Sergeant intervened.

The wounded gunman fled in a stolen SUV, which he crashed a short time later. Lewis died of his wounds shortly later, police said.

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer hailed the CDCR sergeant as a “hero.” There is “no doubt” that more people would have been killed if not for the CDCR Sergeant, Chief Dyer said.

Media reports and police gave this account:

The off-duty CDCR Sergeant, a former Marine, left his vehicle and headed toward Lewis after Lewis’ carjacking attempt failed and he began shooting motorists stranded in their cars.

A witness told the Fresno Bee that he watched the CDCR Sergeant and another armed civilian approach Lewis.

“It was scary,” the witness said. “Thank God for those two guys … He would have killed more people… If it wasn’t for the (CDCR Sergeant), he might have gone after more cars.”

Police don’t know why Lewis started shooting indiscriminately.

According to court records, the Fresno Bee reported, Lewis was arrested two years ago for street terrorism and carrying a loaded firearm in public. In June 2012, he was given a three-year suspended sentence and got three years probation in exchange for his no-contest plea.

34 Comments

Anonymous
on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 5:31 pm

I would like you to know that despite the actions of Joshua he had a loving family and a beautiful daughter who loved him dearly we may never know what he was going through that caused him to do these things but one thing i do know is that he had a family who loved him dearly and unconditionally. We have also lost a loved one regardless of what circumstances were, we lost him too and it has been a detriment affect to us and his child so please before everyone continues to talk down on him, and award someone for killing another human remember he has a baby girl that one day will see all of this. God bless you and your families as god is the only one that has our final judgement.
We LOVE YOU JOSHUA and until its my turn i will always remember you as the great man and father you were and not what happened on your last day.

Most people would not realize the impact upon the family on the other side of an incident like this. I don’t believe anyone would intentionally wish suffering and pain upon your family and probably don’t realize negative comments can be hurtful to those Joshua left behind, so thank you for expanding our emotional horizons by sharing a different angle to consider. God does hold the final judgment over us all. I can’t imagine how it would feel for a beloved family member to commit an act like that and how hard it would be to try to deal with the clash between your love for them and confusion over the behavior you may feel was uncharacteristic.

In all fairness, though, if Joshua had been one of the innocent lives saved that day when a pair of men chose to selflessly risk their own life to protect others, your family would probably want those two men to be recognized for chancing death to help save his life. That takes a selflessness and courage to take action which a lot of people would not exhibit. That is the commendable behavior people want to recognize. I don’t see anyone saying we should “award someone for killing another human.”

If I think about being in that same situation, I would feel like I HAD to do something, but it would be so hard to look into my wife’s eyes for possibly the last time and risking our future together in order to go try to help people I’d never met. It isn’t like the movies where there is enough time to say farewell just in case I never came back…each second of delay might be one more innocent life ended. I would hate to be put in the situation where I had to risk taking one life to save multiple others, but what choice is there?

In real life you don’t just shoot the gun out of someone’s hand and everyone walks away relatively unscathed. There were more victims that day than those that were physically wounded. If I had to take someone’s life even to save others, I think I’d always feel a heaviness in my heart. I’d never want to be put in that situation – there’s no win-win for anyone.

As the Lord’s Prayer says “Forgive us our trespasses as we would forgive those that trespass against us.” Let us also consider situations from another’s point of view as we would like them to consider things from our viewpoint. I’m sure that sergeant never woke up hoping he’d witness a tragedy, be involved in one, or end up taking a life. Let’s pray that God will grant peace to all of those involved, directly or indirectly, with such tragedies.

Just a thought
on Friday, February 7, 2014 at 5:15 pm

I hope his family will be able to heal quickly and be well cared for. This is truly a sad situation.

Definitely, you deserve the Medal of Valor! I thank you for your willingness to step in and assist, because so often we don’t want to get involved. Thank you for getting involved, for risking your life and saving others!

frank walker
on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 4:35 am

I feel this CDCR sergeant should be nominated for the CDCR Medal of Valor. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation should recognize his effort to save lives at the risk of his own. God bless this sergeant and his family. I am proud to be part of CDCR.

The Medal of Valor covers events during the previous calendar year. The upcoming Medal of Valor honors will be for events during the calendar year 2013. This event will be covered by next year’s Medal of Valor ceremony (2015.)

Absolutely spot on every one of you! In this day of putting heroes down as damaged goods and making sport out of marring, we finally get a shining example of what a true hero does, putting aside his own safety to ensure the safety of others. Semper Fi Marine, whomever you are.

True Hero(es) unselfishly put there own personal safety in jeopardy to save the lives of others. As a veteran myself and a father of a active duty Marine, I say Semper Fidelis! Thank you both for your valor, honor, courage, and commitment to yourself, family, badge brothers and sisters in green and the Department of Corrections. Well done! I hope the Department of Corrections, City of Fresno, and State of California recognize this moment of valor.

Thank You Marine. Jb weel done! CDCR Medal of Valor nomination is well deserved. One doesn’t go out looking for trouble, but when it does, hopefully all of us at CDCR will do as you have. Thank You for your service. God speed to you and your family.

Sometimes thank you doesn’t even begin to address an act of valor by someone who made a decision and acted on it to place themself in harm’s way knowing the possibility exists that it may cost him his own life. How many more lives did you save can only be speculated on. But what is known is that you risked your life and stopped the threat. I, as a cititzen, thank you for what you did. I agree with all the other comments, he and the other individual deserve formal recognition.

This man not only risked his life but did so knowing his wife could witness his death. With his Marine Corps and CDCR training, personal integrity and courage, he willfully placed himself in the line of fire of a murderer on a rampage. Thank God for men of courage and resolve such as this. He honorably represented CDCR and saved the lives of an unknown number of innocent people. As the father of an active duty Marine and nephew of a Marine that gave the ultimate sacrifice in WWII, Semper Fidelis and may God bless him and his family.

Well said Earles. Another example of a Marine placing himself in harm’s way so that others may live. I wasn’t in the Marines; I was in the Air Force, but I worked with Marines, and have always had the deepest respect for them.

Cortez, R.E.
on Friday, January 24, 2014 at 7:03 am

A true “Medal of Valor” situation, and you rose to the occassion!
Bravo Zulu Marine, Bravo Zulu.

I agree with Aaron and Jim. He should be recognize and awarded from our department, from city of Fresno, and from the Governor.
Great job and congrats to the CDCR Sergeant and also to that another civilian.